I consider it a great honor and privilege to be elected as the president of the Sri Lanka College of Endocrinologists (SLCE) this year. I thank you wholeheartedly for the confidence that you have placed in me.

Our college was first established as the Endocrine Society of Sri Lanka, in 1978, by late Prof Carlo Fonseka. Since then, our college has reached high level of acceptance and performance and has become the apex academic body for Diabetes and endocrine service in Sri Lanka.

The height the College has reached by now is a tribute to the dedicated work of successive presidents, their councils and the enthusiasm shown by our ever-increasing membership. It is my duty and determination to see that the College does even more to make 2025 a year with noteworthy achievements.

Although there’s an increasing awareness regarding the wide range of endocrine affecting humans amongst the medical community, this knowledge and awareness has not reached the general public to an acceptable level. Furthermore, Type 2 diabetes prevalence is reading pandemic proportions in the South Asian Region, affecting as rude as 20% of the population in the some countries. I consider it of paramount Importance to address these issues and as the apex body dealing with diabetes and endocrinology in Sri Lanka, should be our main focus in current times.

As it has been done over the years, this year too, we shall focus on educating the medical community and improving awareness among the general public. In the past, we have had a collective effort as a college to overcome many obstacles and challenges that we met, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis, and we were successful in doing so.

As usual, we shall work in collaboration with many international and local associations and colleges with common interests, to keep the medical community updated and the general public well informed.

As the president of the SLCE, I solemnly pledge to give leadership to a wide array of activities planned this year and do justice to the immense faith you have placed in me.

Let’s work together to achieve even greater heights.